Movers and stayers in STEM enrollment in Italy: who performs better?

Abstract Recently, the mobility behavior of Italian university students has garnered increasing interest from both social scientists and politicians. The very particular geographical characteristics country, together with recognized persistence a significant economic gap between southern northern regions, drive large number to move first macro-region latter. As this phenomenon several implications for policy-makers—at central local levels—it led various theories prejudices. present article will study differences performance STEM who have decided south north those stay close their hometowns. We devised multilevel modelling techniques analyze issue using administrative microdata Ministry Universities Research (MUR), including eight cohorts AY 2008–2009 2015–16, enrolled in fields after earning high school diploma. One main findings is that individuals moved show lower levels than stayer counterparts are or universities.